(EDM) The fifth Russia-sponsored international forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” was staged last week (April 9–10), in St. Petersburg, and President Vladimir Putin used the occasion to demonstrate his particular interest in the international issues affecting this extreme region. He was joined on the panel by the prime ministers of four northern European states—Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden—who sought to collectively ensure that the tensions in the High North would remain manageable (Kommersant, April 11). Putin has few concerns about such global challenges as the melting of Arctic ice or pollution of heretofore largely untouched natural habitats—that is, issues currently prioritized by Finland in its rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Rather, Putin’s interest focuses on the forthcoming (2021–2022) Russian leadership of this institution as a means to reinforce Russia’s coveted status as a “Great Arctic Power” (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 9). […]
Read More © Eurasia Daily Monitor
